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Day 1: Thursday February
12, 2009
Welcome to your big adventure Jacob. We
are going on a Road Trip to five different states. We will be on our journey
until next Tuesday. Each morning you will receive and envelope with the
destination of the day and some interesting facts.
Sit back, enjoy your movies, play your PSP
and have some snacks. We will be on the road for about 7 hours as we head
west to Richfield, UT.
Weather forecast:
Vail Pass: High 25 Low 14 (snow)
Richfield, UT: High 37 Low 18 (partly
cloudy)
Interesting Facts (I-70):
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Interstate first signed and showed up on Colorado maps in 1961 |
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The I-70 Final Link segment
in Glenwood Canyon was dedicated in October, 1992. That completed the
mainline interstate system (excluding connector interstates) in the U.S.
This 12.5 mile segment includes 40 bridges and viaducts, three tunnels, 15
miles of retaining wall, four full-service rest areas and a bike path.
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Highest point on Interstate system is at the Eisenhower Tunnel. – 11,155
feet. Also, it’s the highest vehicular tunnel in the United States |
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The first bore of a major
highway tunnel through the continental divide on what is today's I-70
began in 1968. Completed in 1973, this was the current westbound bore of
I-70, named the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel. Its contract, for $54.14
million, was the larges single federal aid highway contract ever awarded
in the United States up until that time. |
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Zion National Park |
Day 2: Friday February
13, 2009
Good morning Jacob. Today we head to Zion
National Park in Utah. It is one of the top 6 National Parks in the
country. We will be on the road for about 2 hours. Once we get to the park
we will check out the awesome adventures the park has to offer. Put on your
hiking boots and get ready to explore.
Weather Forecast Today: High 46 Low 29
Mostly Cloudy
Interesting Facts:
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Name Zion, a Hebrew word meaning "a place
of peace and relaxation", was given to the canyon by Mormon Pioneers in
the 1860s. Kolob, in Mormon theology, is a heavenly place close to God |
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Size 229 square miles (147,551 acres)
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Elevation Lowest: 3,666 ft at Coal Pits
Wash in the southwest corner. Highest: 8,726 ft at Horse Ranch Mountain
in the Kolob Canyons section |
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2.5 million people visit Zion every year |
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Over 800 native species of plants |
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75 species of mammals, 271 birds, 32
reptiles and amphibians, 8 fish |
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Hoover Dam |
Day 3: Saturday February
14th, 2009
Happy Valentines Day Big Dog.
Today we are going to…Las Vegas, Nevada!!!
We will explore Hoover Dam (Transformers)
then head into Las Vegas where you will get to see the famous Las Vegas
Sign, the famous Las Vegas Strip and of course the fountains at the
Bellagio! We will be on the road for 2.5 hours. Put on your dude outfit and
get ready to head to Vegas in style…
VIVA LAS VEGAS!!
Weather Forecast: High 50 Low 39 (chance of
rain)
Interesting Facts:
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Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. It took
a total of 21,000 men five years to complete the structure |
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First Casino Licenses 1931 |
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Annual visitors to Las Vegas 36.7 million
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Nevada has more mountains ranges than any
other state. The highest point is at the 13,145 foot top of Boundary Peak |
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1899 the first slot machine was invented
by Charles Fey. It was called the Liberty Bell |
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The Wynn and Rio Casinos do not have any
elevator floors that start with the number 4 because the number 4 is
unlucky in the Chinese Culture |
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Wyatt Earp maintained law and order in
the town of Tonopah, Nevada |
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The famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign
was created in 1959 by Betty Willis |
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Seventeen of the 20 biggest hotels in the
U.S. are in Las Vegas |
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Las Vegas, Nevada |
Grand Canyon National Park |
Day 4: Sunday February
15, 2009
Good morning handsome. Before begin today’s
adventure we will be taking you to brunch at the Bellagio. After brunch we
will be heading east to the Grand Canyon, Arizona. We will be visiting the
southern rim of the Canyon. Sit back and relax- drive time is about 4
hours. Get ready to see some amazing natural beauty.
Weather Forecast: High 33 Low 9 (chance of
snow)
Interesting Facts:
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The Grand Canyon first was named in 1893 |
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It became part of the National Park
Services in 1919 |
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The southern rim is open 24 hours a day
365 days a year |
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Riding a mule is the safest way to get to
the bottom of the Canyon |
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Over 5 million people visit the Canyon
each year. |
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18 miles wide, 50000 feet deep, and227
miles long |
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One of the Seven natural wonders of the
world |
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Rocks were formed millions of years ago-
some rocks at the bottom of the Canyon are over a billion years old |
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There are 75 different species of mammal,
50 species of reptiles, 25 species of fish, and 300 species of bird |
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Petrified Forest National Park |
Day 5: Monday February
16, 2009
Hello dude! We will be spending the
morning exploring the Grand Canyon. When we are done we will be heading
east to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sit back and enjoy the scenery- we have about
a 6 hour drive.
Weather Forecast:
Grand Canyon: High 35 Low 12
Santa Fe: High 43 Low 20
Interesting Facts:
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Santa Fe was originally settled by
Spaniards before 1607, and is now the oldest state capital city in the
United States. Its original name “La Villa Real de Santa Fe de San
Francisco de Asis”, is Spanish for “the Royal City of the Holy Faith of
St. Francis of Assisi” |
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Santa Fe is the highest capital in the
U.S> at 7000 feet above sea level |
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In October Santa Fe hosts the world’s
largest international hot air balloon fiesta |
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Rio Grande is New Mexico’s longest river
and runs the entire length of New Mexico |
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Averages 14 inches of rainfall a year and
30-34 inches of snow |
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Santa Fe, New Mexico |
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Day 6: Tuesday February
17, 2009
We are going home!!!!! You are such a
special young man. Thank you for making our road trip adventure truly
amazing. It has been so incredible to see and experience everything through
your eyes.
Enjoy the drive…we will be home in about 6
hours!!
Weather Forecast:
Santa Fe: High 46 Low 23 (sunny)
Denver: High 49 Low 20 (sunny)
Interesting Colorado Facts:
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Colorado is the only state in history to
turn down the Olympics. In 1976 the Winter Olympics were planned to be
held in Denver. 62% of the states voters chose to NOT host the Olympics
because of the cost, pollution and population boom it would have on the
State |
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The worlds largest flat- top mountain is
in Grand Mesa |
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Denver is where the cheeseburger was
invented in 1935. The trademark was awarded to Louis Ballast |
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The highest paved road in North America
is the Road to Mt. Evans off of I-70 from Idaho Springs. The Road climbs
up to 14,2587 Ft. above Sea Level |
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The United States government owns more
then 1/3 of the land in Colorado |
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Colorado contains 75% of the land area of
the U.S. with an altitude over 10,000 feet |
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Colfax avenue is the longest continuous
street in America |
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Denver has the largest park system in the
nation with 205 parks in City limits and 20,000 acres of parks in nearby
mountains |
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Colorado has more microbreweries per
capita than any other state |
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